Supplementing natural light with flash

Sometimes when working with natural light, you can’t always get the most flattering image, especially when it comes to food photography. That’s where using a supplemental speedlight can help dramatically.

Set the scene

I set my scene up on a table near the back door of my studio but found hand-held there simply wasn’t enough light to get great exposure. I added a silver reflector, but still not quite enough.

I could have put my camera on a tripod, which is a great option but is problematic for capturing various different angles. So I grabbed my Godox AD200Pro and a strip box to supplement my natural light. I stuck with a fairly basic diagonal composition, but then shot from various angles.

Adding your flash

I used my speedlight as a side light to add some fill to my image and remove the harsh shadows. I used a Godox X1 trigger on my Sony a7R III to control my settings and fire the speedlight.

My camera was set to f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/125s, and my speedlight was set to 1/32 power.

It’s important that your flash does not overpower your natural light, you need to balance it out. I used a light meter to get my readings. There are still shadows, but now they are fairly soft and are not overpowering my image.

Want to learn more about capturing natural and artificial lighting? Why not check out one of my self-paced online classes, like Blossoms & Buds, Capturing Light or Table & Plate? I have so many classes available, you are sure to find something that suits your interest.